When she was 22, after signing up for her role in Emma, Paltrow claims the movie mogul placed his hands on her at a hotel and asked her to give him a massage.

Image:Harvey Weinstein is facing sexual assault charges

In an interview with Marie Claire magazine, Paltrow said Pitt made his feelings clear to Weinstein after she told him what had happened.

Now 46, she told the magazine: "I am so grateful to Brad, because he leveraged his power and fame to protect me, when I was no one, and he scared Harvey.

"And if it hadn't been for him, I don't know if I'd have gotten fired, or what.

"But instead, Harvey was like, 'Okay, let's put it behind us'. I think he wanted to keep Brad on side."

Image:Ashely Judd was one of the first women to accuse Weinstein

Weinstein produced some of Paltrow's biggest films, including Sliding Doors and Shakespeare In Love, as well as Emma.

Following the scandal which emerged last year, starting with a story published by The New York Times exposing allegations made by actresses including Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan, he is now facing sexual assault charges relating to three women, as well as misconduct and harassment allegations made by dozens of other women.